Radio breakfast shows have become an art form and Scott Mills, beloved radio presenter at the BBC, has mastered it.
Commercial radio was the beginning of his journey, where he learned all about the secrets of sleek flow, calculated pace and introductions. It also influenced the structure of his shows: Natural speech is a skill that builds up with practice and there is always some level of planning ahead.
“I wanted to have a morning show that genuinely feels like a family”- Scott Mills
On the last episode of his previous afternoon show at BBC 2, he signed off with the phrase “Your life and your stories is what makes this show … .make me part of your morning routine and I will give it everything I’ve got”. Bonding with listeners is key to success in the radio field. By putting his personal life on air and actively listening to his audience, people feel like they are in the same studio as him.
‘You are the conductor of the orchestra but your voice has to be the most powerful”- Scott Mills
You have to be a generous presenter. Creating a space where interviewees and listeners feel heard and understood, create an atmosphere that simply cannot be replicated with any other method. Even when callers feel awkward and don’t have anything to say, Scott advised presenters to lead the way and “warm them up” with anything they can come up with.
It’s a skill Scott has employed over the years, continuing to keep him one of UK radio’s most enduring and popular presenters.
image © Hedda Axelsson
